In this series, we have been talking about the church. Many people distance themselves from the church and think that church matters are not their matters. But we must realize that we, the believers, are the church and we must hold onto the church. The church is a body of those saved by God’s grace. A thriving church is the most wonderful thing on earth.
That being said, there is no such thing as a perfect church. Each church has its negative aspects and consists of imperfect members. This is reality, no church is perfect. While there is still sin in this world, sin will also be found in the church. But there are churches that are thriving. They are united in their kingdom work and they are growing in both faith and numbers. They faithfully follow the Apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ(1 Thessalonians 2:5-6).
Last week, we learned that the thriving church is bold and striving. They are not ashamed of the gospel but firmly proclaim Jesus as the only way to be saved (Romans 1:16). A true church sincerely believes there is nothing more precious and wonderful than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they labor hard to be used by God. We cannot change men’s hearts but we can be God’s tools which he uses to minister to the world. Even being thrown into prison did not deter the early church from working together to share the gospel (Acts 4:23).
The gospel is holy. In 1 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul explains that his gospel did not come from error, impurity, or deceit. Their teaching was not false or heretical. Even though he was not part of the original 12 disciples and had a past of persecuting the church, he still preached the true gospel under the commission of Jesus (Acts 9:15). Apostle Paul taught with pure motives, only desiring the salvation of all sinners everywhere (Romans 9:2-3). His laboring and proclaiming was a genuine love for the Lord and the lost. Paul never worked for money or any earthly gain (1 Timothy 6:10, Philippians 3:8).
The point is that Apostle Paul was a holy man because of the gospel. The gospel causes a man to be holy in the first place but is also continually sanctifying a man in practical holiness. Holiness is different from morality. Holiness comes from God. It is the conformity of one’s heart, mind, and actions to God’s word. God is holy, without sin or defect, completely apart from all created things. The church too is called out of the world to be holy. Holiness is not merely being a nice and good person. It is a practice of what God desires and neglect of what he hates.
How can we be holy? It begins with being washed by the blood of Jesus. Practical holiness begins with the complete justification of Jesus Christ.
Why does the church need to be holy? Because it is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3). We’re always wondering what the will of God is. The will of God could not be more clear to the believer. It is to be holy. If you are not pursuing holiness, then you are resisting the will of God. If you are not holy and have no interest in holiness, if you have been a slave to sin for a long time, then you should question your salvation. Before you were a Christian, you were dead in your sins, but now you have the life of Jesus. Jesus’ holy life is transferred to you. Does it make sense that this wonderful new eternal life gifted to you in Jesus Christ would not be holy? A dark and sinful life is the very thing Jesus rescued us from by dying on the cross as a blameless sacrifice. A holy life is what we are given and what we are saved to.
The thriving church is holy because God and His people are holy. The Old Testament can be summarized as “God is holy”. The New Testament can be summarized as “So are we”. The church is so wonderfully blessed. We are called the children of God. There is nothing quite like the church. It is a heavenly family where the holy God is our Father and we are His most precious children. At the foundation of this purest and good relationship is holiness.
We must not only be holy because God is holy, but also because impurity ruins the reputation of both God and the church (1 Corinthians 5:1,5). This is a really tragic problem in churches today. Especially the immorality happening in many churches today. Sin and a lack of holiness rob the church of its power. The strength of the church and its power to influence the world around it is rooted in holiness. A holy church can face persecution and even death because it knows that holiness is worth more than the comforts of this world. Remember Jesus resisting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness and Apostle Paul who claimed to “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21).
Holiness must be our first priority. We must be in our Bibles every day to learn and obey. We must follow Christ. We are called to be the salt and light of the world. It is of utmost importance that we diligently pursue holiness in this world. The church has failed miserably in epic proportions. Satan has succeeded in tempting so many Christians. Without being holy we are not pleasing God nor are we following His will. It doesn’t matter how big your church is and what it has accomplished. The church must be holy.
When going through suffering, if we do not wish to perish, we must follow the Word of God (Psalm 119:92). A holy person delights in the word of God. With a sincere interest in God’s word, we know who God is. We are convinced and convicted by God’s word that His word is the truth, that Jesus is more important and more valuable than anything, and to follow Him is the right and only thing to do. Only Jesus saves us and can lead us in this dark world. How can you survive in this foolish and corrupt society? Only by trusting in God’s word. A holy church that rests in God’s word can fight and overcome this evil world.
So ask yourself every day, am I following Jesus? Is my life conforming to His likeness? Remember a thriving church is a holy church. Our God is above all and is the true and living God. He is the holy God and we are his church.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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